Dear Arnold, Even Terminators Retire

By

Joe Queenan

Nov. 1, 2013 9:44 p.m. ET

Last month, Mariano Rivera, the greatest relief pitcher in the history of the game, officially retired. He was 43. Though he was still able to get batters out, even feared hitters, he was no longer the lights-out, first-ballot Hall of Fame closer he had been for so many years. And so, partially out of respect for the game, but partially because he didn't want baseball fans to see him start getting taken deep by some callow bush-leaguer, Mr. Rivera simply walked away.